To say the little house in London was tense was the understatement of the century. Both Sirius and Ella were wracked with guilt and anger and, in addition, general melancholy. Remus tried to act as intermediary but his endeavors failed miserably. Admitting feelings was something neither wanted to do. Sirius tried to work long hours and Ella could usually be found sitting in a corner of her room or the living room, her nose shoved in a book. Sirius' threat, for one reason or another, was never carried through for which Remus and Ella were extremely happy.

Perhaps they should have seen it coming, the stick of dynamite that would blow away the already weak skeletons of their emotional house. Perhaps they should have but they had long since stopped looking outside themselves to face the harsh light of worldly conflict. They had enough conflict to deal with themselves. The stick of dynamite came in the form of a simple fire.

Ella sat curled the couch in front of the grate, tears slipping down her face as Jane returned. Remus was in the kitchen, putting away the leftovers for Sirius who was working late again. The fire roared into life and Ella jumped out of her skin, frantically wiping away her tears. She immediately recognized the face in the fire as the Healer in charge of her mother and Leo. "Hello Ella, is your father here?"

"No, I'm sorry he's not Healer Morris. What is it? Is something wrong?" The Healer's face split into a grin and she shook her head slowly as if she was trying half-heartedly to hold back the news.

"Ella, Leo's woken." Ella's heart stopped beating in her chest and she stood up and crossed the room to the fire, kneeling in front of it. The tears had come back and were falling like rain down her cheeks.

"Is it true? Can it be true?" she murmured mostly to herself.

"Yes Ella, it's true. Leo's awake and talking and I don't know how it happened Ella. One minute he's just like always and the next he's awake and jabbering on as if he'll never sleep again."

"Ella?" Remus called from the kitchen. His voice sounded alien and far away. When Ella couldn't answer Remus came jogging in, a look of concern on his face. The first thing he saw was Ella's tear stained face and he crossed the room to her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "What is it dear?" he asked but she couldn't answer. Her voice had died in her throat and all she could manage was a sob. His shoulder soon became soaked and he caught sight of the Healer. His face paled. "Something's happened with Leo or Cassey." The Healer nodded and Remus felt his body go weak.

"It's not what you think Mr. Lupin. Leo's awake." This merited another sob on Ella's part. Remus couldn't believe his ears and he felt tears well up in his own eyes. He sunk to the floor, Ella collapsing onto his chest. With a smile, the Healer faded from the fire, knowing full-well she would be getting some late-night guests. The two sat like that for a long time, neither fully believing but instead, sinking into the warmth of maybe, the maybe they hadn't seen since, since, never. It was dizzying, even that shadow of happiness which had washed over them. A small pop stirred them, pulling them back to reality.

Sirius walked into the living room from the hall, a suspicious look darkening his features. "What's happened?" he asked, rushing to Remus' side. "Nothing's happened to Ella right?" Remus shook his head, facing Sirius, a smile spreading over his lips.

"It's Leo, Sirius. He's woken; the Healer just fired." Sirius sunk the floor, a look of shock coming over him. His boy, his precious baby boy was awake! It hardly seemed possible. After the shock wore off, he jumped up, excitement the likes of which he hadn't felt in a very long time sweeping over him.

"What are we doing here?" Ella's head shot up. "Why aren't we at St. Mungo's?" Sirius was bouncing excitedly from one leg to the other. He stared between Ella and Remus for a couple of seconds before Ella spoke.

"Yeah, why don't we go." Her voice was weak and shaky from crying but she was happy for the first time since term ended. She batted away her tears and Sirius beckoned her foreword. She grabbed onto his elbow and with a pop they were gone. Remus followed tentatively after and, before they knew it, they were in Leo and Cassey's ward.

"Why Mr. Black, what a surprise," the Healer's voice sounded sarcastic but Sirius didn't care. Remus chose to get himself some tea while Ella and Sirius got reacquainted with the "lost" Black. He stole away without disturbing his nearly manic best friend and slightly more subdued goddaughter. "Now Mr. Black, I don't want you over exciting your son alright? He's been through something we do not fully understand. None of us can explain why a child who has been in a coma for nearly his whole life would have the linguistic and cognitive prowess Leo seems to have. Until that time in which we do begin to understand your son's condition you will only be able to see him for an hour at a time. Is that clear?" Sirius bobbed his head hurriedly.

"Yeah, yeah I understand. Now can we see him. . . please." The Healer hesitated for a moment but eventually turned and lead the two toward a new room.

"You've moved him," Ella observed softly.

"Yes, we thought it best for him not to see. . ." Healer Morris trailed off but both father and daughter knew full well of whom she was speaking. "Anyway, here we are. I will be back in an hour at which time I hope you will leave willingly." She cast them a look that clearly said "do or die." and Sirius had the good grace to look at least a little intimidated. After the Healer's footsteps died away, Sirius and Ella turned slowly to face the bed. On it sat Leo, propped up on a mountain of pillows. He had a book propped up on his knees, or was it a comic. His black hair was pulled back in a ponytail and his skin, which had been so white before, now was rosy. It was like he had come back to life. Ella coughed delicately and he turned his head quickly toward them, pushing a stray strand of hair out of his face. Sirius' breath caught in his throat. Leo was his exact replica, down to the eyes, those mystical gray eyes.

"Hello," he stated clearly though his accent was strange, foreign.

"H-hi," Ella said, taking a step toward him. "You probably don't know who we are but-"

"Of course I know who you are," Leo answered simply. "You're my sister, Vela Jane Black. And you," he turned to Sirius, their eyes piercing through each other's. "You're my dad, Sirius Black."

"How did you know that?" Sirius breathed, taking the seat next to Leo's bed. Ella stood behind his chair, awkwardly staring at her brother, the miracle. Leo looked thoughtful for a moment before answering simply.

"I don't rightly know. I suppose I just do." Sirius inhaled deeply.

"Are you real?" Ella asked, not taking her eyes off of him. He smiled secretively.

"Of course, as real as you or that chair." His voice was familiar somehow, with a quality hailing from whispered lullabies of her nearly forgotten childhood.

"Can you get up?" Sirius asked, eyeing Leo's stationary body in the bed. Leo sent him an mischievous grin.

"I could but the Healers would kill me. They've all but tied me bodily to the bed." Sirius laughed and Leo joined him. Their voice melded together just as Ella had always imagined they would. They were so alike, Leo and Sirius. In her dreams they had been like this, mischievous, the same devilish grin and sharp wit, everything she lacked. Subconsciously, she had always been bothered slightly by the disparity between her father and herself. They really had very little in common passed what Ella had forced onto herself to make him happy. Leo, in a way, was her antithesis, her opposite, the one with whom Sirius would get along beautifully. With a self-rebuking prod, she shook herself from these thoughts. The thing for which, after all, she had been waiting her entire life was upon her. Her beloved twin was alive and well, laughing and talking with her father. They were a family at last.

"Can you do magic?" Ella asked, taking a seat at the foot of the bed. Leo nodded and drew his finger expertly through the air, summoning a flower pot from the coffee table to him. "Wandless magic!" Ella gasped. Leo smiled, blushing slightly.

"It's nothing really, I suppose it just comes naturally. I don't know." Sirius and Ella seemed to be at a loss for words. Before the silence got to be too unbearable, Remus stepped casually into the room, a cup of tea held in his entwined fingers. Leo studied him for a long moment. "Moony?" Remus' usually calm demeanor shook and he stared, blinking at him, unable to affirm his pronouncement.

"You know Moony too?" Ella asked, her voice shaking. It was a little too odd really, Leo's condition. She could understand that he probably overheard her name and inferred that his father and sister would visit, but to be able to pick out Moony's face? It just didn't seem possible. For the first time in the whole evening, Leo looked frazzled. He ran a hand over his face, trailing a long, purple tube with him. He rubbed his eyes for a moment before turning a pleading gaze on his sister.

"I don't know how I know all this. I just don't know; you believe me don't you?" Ella nodded slowly. There was no deception in his eyes; he was not lying and she could feel the pain, the anguish emanating from him. He was just a lost little boy, she thought with a sudden pang. He was just trying to find his way.

Healer Morris clicked into the room, a smile planted on her face. "Hour's up. You may come back tomorrow. For the time being, however, young Mr. Black must have his rest." Sirius looked for a moment as if he was going to argue but in the end decided against it. He rose and Ella followed suit. She bent down over Leo and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. He gave her hand a squeeze as if to reassure her that he was indeed there. Sirius squeezed the boys shoulder and ruffled his hair. Remus, unsure of what to do, gave Leo a jaunty wave before exiting the room behind Healer Morris. Ella was the last one out of the room and turned to say a quick:

"Goodnight Leo."

"Goodnight Vela."

A/N: I know, I know, it's shorter than the previous two chapters but what the hey. This is a good ending to the chapter don't you think? Thank you all so much for reviewing. I almost didn't believe it at first. A special thanks to Tawa for her extra long reviews; they were invaluable. And, to answer you question dearest, Vela is going to a seventh year, or, at least that is her age. . .